Best-Selling Religious Books

A Century (or so) of Religious Best-Sellers* in the United States

Biblical and Inspirational Fiction

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon (1897)
The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright (1907)
The Calling of Dan Matthews by Harold Bell Wright (1909)
The Nazarene by Sholem Asch (1939)
The Robe Lloyd C. Douglas (1942)
The Silver Chalice by Thomas B. Costain (1948)
The Day Christ Died by Jim Bishop (1957)

Devotional and Inspirational Nonfiction

The Song of Our Syrian Guest by William Allen Knight (1903)
Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman (1925)
Peace with God by Billy Graham (1954)
The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson (1963)
Joni by Joni Earekson (1976)
The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I here for? by Rick Warren (2002)

Scripture Supplements (including Bible story books for children)

The Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut (1904)
Egermeier's Bible Story Book by Elsie E. Egermeier (1922)
Halley's Bible Handbook by Henry H. Halley (1927)

Apocalyptic Literature

The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey (1970)
Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey (1972)
Angels: God's Secret Agents by Billy Graham (1975)
This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (1986)
Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins (1995 - 2007)

Positive Thinking

The Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd Douglas (1929)
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale (1952)
Prison to Praise by Merlin Carothers (1970)
Power in Praise by Merlin Carothers (1972)
The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life by Bruce Wilkinson (2000)

*sales equal to at least one percent of the U.S. population when the book was first published

John P. Ferré, University of Louisville